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CNN Saturday Morning News

Nursing Mothers Stand Up for Right to Breast Feed in Public

Aired August 03, 2002 - 07:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: In New Hampshire, a nursing mother said she was humiliated at a public pool when the supervisor busted her breast feeding and made her stop.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Uh-oh. Well, the incident roused a rabble of other breast feeding moms. Andy Hirshberger of CNN affiliate WMUR in New Hampshire has the outcome of their protest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDY HIRSHBERGER, WMUR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Supporters say it's totally natural and completely legal. Friday afternoon, Hunt Memorial Pool in Manchester became ground zero in the battle over a woman's right to publicly breast feed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just think that breast feeding is a wonderful, natural thing, that if you're able to do it, you should be able to do it. And you should not be looked down upon for choosing to breast feed your child.

HIRSHBERGER: The controversy started July 3, when Loralee David (ph) was asked to stop breast feeding her five-month old daughter, Lily, while she was standing in the water. She believes she was singled out and treated rudely when she was completely within her legal rights.

LORALEE DAVID, MOTHER: Of course, I know there are children, but I'm not going to do something that's, you know, irresponsible or inappropriate.

HIRSHBERGER (on camera): City officials say they erred on the side of caution when they asked Loralee David (ph) to stop nursing in the pool. They'd really never run across that type of situation before. And they wanted to make sure that it was safe.

(voice-over): City officials did some homework and determined it's fine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once we confirmed that, ascertained it, felt confident that public safety, which is our utmost interest, was protected, we will allow it.

HIRSHBERGER: In a largely symbolic move, David (ph) and two other nursing mothers marched into the pool Friday afternoon and began breast feeding. For the most part, the July 3 episode was a big misunderstanding. These women say it's healthy, they're discreet, and the pool is as good a place as any for them to feed their children.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: Did he say public safety?

SMITH: I think so.

CALLAWAY: Loralee David (ph) says that she still wants the pool's supervisor reprimanded. And we should say that report was from Andy Hirshberger. He's with WMUR.

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